WhatStove?

Review of Broseley Serrano 3 woodburning stove

An expensive ornament

Evelyn Woolston 14 years ago

Plus points\nAttractive appearance\nMaterials appear to be good quality\nEasy to install\nMinus points\nPoor design - Inefficient airwash, hard to keep fires alight\n\nHaving owned a wood burner for over 25 years (the same woodburner, and still going strong!) we decided to replace an open fire in another room with a woodstove. \nThe stove looks very attractive in situ. It was easy to fit. \nBut it isn't practical. Instead of a 'basin' in which wood can be burnt on a bed of hot ash, with a removable grate for burning solid fuel, this design requires wood to be burnt on the grate so that ash can only build below the grate. Below the grate is a small pan which has gaps down each side so that much of ash falls next to the pan, down the grooves on which this pan stands and can only be removed with your fingers (even a spoon is too wide to poke down them).\nThe air vents, which should be able to create a 'roar' when open, may be partially blocked by the grill pan, anyway they have little effect on the fire. The difference between opening and closing them is marginal. The only way to 'draw' the fire would be to leave the door slightly ajar - hardly to be recommended. Our other stove can relight from only a few hot ashes, this one usually has to be relit completely if allowed to burn even slightly low. And because it has a small interior and this strange burn-on-grate design, it can only hold a bit of wood at a time.\nThe stove boasts an 'Air Wash' system but because the fire never burns very hot, this doesn't work - the vents which are supposed to activate it make little difference to the flame direction, whether left open or closed - and the door needs extensive cleaning daily (white vinegar with a dash of washing up liquid applied with a plastic scouring pad). \nI was surprised by a line in the manul that states that 'Failure to allow a sufficient flow of air through the grate will result in the grate burning out in a very short period of time. This will not be covered by any warranty claim' also 'You will get some spillage of ash to the back and sides of the ashcan itself' (You certainly will - since the ashcan is too small for the unit!) 'and you must ensure that this is cleaned out regularly and from behind the internal baffle plate. If you do not do this, you may buckle the baffle plate or in the extreme, burn it out'.\nWell, Broseley have certainly covered their backs!\nI can understand that because this fire is small (3KW) that it won't work as well as a larger unit but I was expecting better for my money. An expensive, high maintenance ornament.\n

Overall rating:

2.5 flames

Build Quality 4 flames (avg 4.3)
Quality of finish 5 flames (avg 4.8)
Value for money 2 flames (avg 3.8)
Ease of use 5 flames (avg 4.5)
Ease of lighting 2 flames (avg 3.2)
Firebox size 1 flames (avg 2.5)
How well does the airwash work 1 flames (avg 3.3)
Controllability 1 flames (avg 3.3)
Handle operation 4 flames (avg 4)
How likely are you to buy it again? 1 flames (avg 3.2)
What is your overall satisfaction? 2 flames (avg 3.5)